How To Talk to Your Kids About Drugs

More than half of all American kids will try drugs at least once between first and 12th grade. You can influence your child’s decision. Here are some tips to help you steer your child in the right direction.

Recognize that this is your job. You have the greatest influence on your kids. Don’t leave drug prevention to the school.

Start early. Help your kids form attitudes toward drugs early. If they know drugs are bad long before they’re offered any, it will be easier for them to say no when that time comes.

Keep it simple. Be firm and clear about what you believe and the behavior you expect from your kids.

Encourage personal responsibility. Self-reliance begins when kids take on some degree of responsibility. Responsible kids make wise choices about drug use.

Be a good role model. No matter what you tell your children, behavior speaks volumes.

Know how to handle your own substance abuse history. While it may be tempting, avoid talking about your own experimentation with alcohol or drugs. Your child may take this as evidence that such behavior is acceptable or harmless. However, if you are in recovery yourself, you may want to share your experience and describe how you were able to overcome addiction.

Reason with your kids. As your children grow up, rules won’t be enough. They need information about the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Talk with them, not just to them.

Listen. Listen to your child; encourage them to tell you what they think.

Know your kids’ friends. Get to know your kids’ friends and their families. Are these kids likely to succumb to peer pressure? What are the other parents views on experimentation?

Don’t worry. Taking a firm stand against drug use will not damage your relationship with your child. Many kids are looking for a good reason to avoid trying drugs, so it helps if they can explain, “My mom and dad would kill me, if I did.”

First Step of Sarasota, Inc. complies with state and federal non-discrimination laws and policies that prohibit discrimination based on age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion or sex. It is unlawful to retaliate against individuals or groups on the basis of their participation in a complaint of discrimination or on the basis of their opposition to discriminatory practices.

Priority is given to the following populations: parents putting children at risk due to a substance use or co-occurring disorder [(SA-MH) (Person involved in child welfare)]; pregnant IV drug users, pregnant drug and/or alcohol users, IV drug users.